甘薯根腐病菌侵染对甘薯内源激素水平的影响

甘薯根腐病病原菌[Fusarium solani(Mart.)Sacc.f.sp.batatas McClure,简称FSB]侵染及其培养液滤液处理高敏感性甘薯品种‘胜利百号’后,引起甘薯叶片、茎尖和根部组织内源ABA含量大幅升高。其中在根部出现最早,但茎尖中积累浓度最高。侵染后甘薯叶片、茎尖和根部组织内源GA1/3含量显著低于对照。甘薯组培苗经FSB培养滤液处理9h后,ABA含量显著上升,处理15h,ABA含量呈下降趋势,而GA1/3含量在101和102稀释液处理15h(103稀释液处理12h)时出现显著上升。这些结果有助于解释甘薯根腐病株矮小不产生藤蔓,并在秋季大量现蕾开花的生理现象。     

寄主植物对B型烟粉虱选择行为和生物学参数的影响

通过培养皿内自由扩散观察和生物学观察,对黄瓜、茄子、辣椒、棉花和甘薯上B型烟粉虱的寄主选择性和生物学参数进行了研究.结果表明：B型烟粉虱成虫向寄主植物叶片自由扩散的初始阶段（2 h）,各寄主植物叶片上虫量的差异不大,在随后的4～48 h内黄瓜叶片上的虫量不断增加,茄子、棉花和甘薯叶片上的虫量相对稳定,而辣椒叶片上的虫量却不断下降,说明B型烟粉虱对黄瓜的选择性最强、对辣椒的选择性最弱,且饥饿和吡虫啉预处理均不影响B型烟粉虱的寄主选择性;取食不同寄主植物烟粉虱成虫的蜜露分泌量差异显著,从高到低依次为黄瓜、甘薯、棉花、茄子、辣椒;黄瓜、茄子、甘薯、棉花上烟粉虱成虫的寿命显著长于辣椒,其平均单雌产卵量(分别为224.33粒、182.33粒、191.73粒和172.60粒)也均显著高于辣椒(47.83粒);各寄主植物上烟粉虱卵的孵化率和发育历期差异均不显著;烟粉虱若虫在黄瓜、茄子、甘薯和棉花上的发育历期分别为10.60 d、11.96 d、11.11 d和13.20 d,死亡率分别为5.21%、27.78%、17.24%和37.11%,在辣椒上不能完成正常发育.     

玉/豆和玉/薯模式下氮肥运筹对玉米氮素利用和土壤硝态氮残留的影响

过量施用氮肥造成的环境问题日益严重,氮肥合理使用已成为人们研究的热点.本文研究了西南玉米两种主要套作模式下氮肥运筹对玉米氮素利用和土壤硝态氮残留的影响.结果表明：连续分带轮作种植玉/豆模式后,玉米收获期植株中的氮素积累较玉/薯模式平均提高了6.1%,氮收获指数增加了5.4%,最终使氮肥利用效率提高4.3%,氮素同化量提高了15.1%,氮肥偏生产力提高了22.6%;玉米收获后硝态氮淋溶损失减少,60～120 cm土层中硝态氮残留玉/豆模式较玉/薯模式降低了10.3%,而0～60 cm土层中平均提高了12.9%,有利于培肥地力,两年产量平均较玉/薯模式高1249 kg·hm^-2,增产22%;增加施氮量提高了植株氮素积累,降低了氮肥利用率,显著提高了表层土壤中硝态氮的累积,60～100 cm土层中硝态氮的累积量在0～270 kg·hm^-2处理间差异不显著,继续增加施氮量会显著增加土壤硝态氮的淋溶;氮肥后移显著提高了土壤0～60 cm土层硝态氮的积累.两种模式下施氮量和底追比对玉米氮素吸收和硝态氮残留的影响结果不一致,玉/豆模式以施氮180～270 kg·hm^-2、按底肥∶拔节肥∶穗肥=3∶2∶5的施肥方式有利于提高玉米植株后期氮素积累、氮收获指数和氮肥利用效率,减少了氮肥损失,两年最高产量平均可达7757 kg·hm^-2;而玉/薯模式在180 kg·hm^-2、按底肥∶穗肥=5∶5的施肥方式下,氮素积累利用及产量均优于其他处理,两年平均产量为6572 kg·hm^-2,可实现两种模式下玉米高产、高效、安全的氮肥管理体系.
     

Lack of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in a range of higher plants that store starch.

The aim of this work was to discover whether fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) is present in higher-plant cells that synthesize storage starch. The following were examined: suspension cultures of soybean (Glycine max), tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum), florets of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea), developing endosperm of maize and of sweet corn (Zea mays), roots of pea (Pisum sativum), and the developing embryos of round and wrinkled varieties of pea. Unfractionated extracts of each tissue readily converted fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6-phosphate in assays for both plastidic and cytosolic FBPase. These conversions were not inhibited by 20 microM-fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Except in extracts of pea embryos and sweet-corn endosperm, treatment with affinity-purified antibodies to pyrophosphate: fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase reduced the above fructose 6-phosphate production to the rate found with boiled extracts. The antibody-resistant activity from sweet corn was slight. In immunoblot analyses, antibody to plastidic FBPase did not react positively with any protein in extracts of soybean cells, potato tuber, cauliflower florets, maize endosperm and pea roots. Positive reactions were found for extracts of embryos of both round and wrinkled varieties of peas and endosperm of sweet corn. For pea embryos, but not for sweet-corn endosperm, the Mr of the recognized protein corresponded to that of plastidic FBPase. It is argued that soybean cells, potato tuber, cauliflower florets, maize (var. White Horse Tooth) endosperm and pea roots lack significant activity of plastidic FBPase, but that this enzyme is present in developing embryos of pea. The data for sweet corn (var. Golden Bantam) are not decisive. It is also argued that, where FBPase is absent, carbon for starch synthesis does not enter the amyloplast as triose phosphate.     

Assessing the roles of roots and shoots in the accumulation of cadmium in two sweet potato cultivars using split-root and reciprocal grafting systems

Plant and Soil - The root cadmium (Cd) concentrations of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) cultivars vary greatly. In this study, we explored the role of shoots and roots in Cd accumulation...     

Hydrogen Sulfide Promotes Root Organogenesis in Ipomoea batatas, Salix matsudana and Glycine max

In this report, we demonstrate that sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor, promoted adventitious root formation mediated by auxin and nitric oxide (NO). Application of the H2S donor to seedling cuttings of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) promoted the number and length of adventltious roots in a dose-dependent manner. It was also verified that H2S or HS- rather than other sulfur-containing components derived from NariS could be attributed to the stimulation of adventitious root formation. A rapid Increase In endogenous H2S, indole acetic acid (IAA) and NO were sequentially observed in shoot tips of sweet potato seedlings treated with HallS. Further investigation showed that HzS-mediated root formation was alleviated by N-l-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), an IAA transport inhibitor, and 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO), an NO scavenger. Similar phenomena in H2S donor-dependent root organogenesis were observed in both excised willow (Sallx matsudana var. tortuosa Vilm) shoots and soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings. These results indicated that the process of H2S-induced adventitious root formation was likely mediated by IAA and NO, and that H2S acts upstream of IAA and NO signal transduction pathways.     

Binuclear metal centers in plant purple acid phosphatases: Fe-Mn in sweet potato and Fe-Zn in soybean.

Purple acid phosphatases comprise a family of binuclear metal-containing acid hydrolases, representatives of which have been found in animals, plants, and fungi. The goal of this study was to characterize purple acid phosphatases from sweet potato tubers and soybean seeds and to establish their relationship with the only well-characterized plant purple acid phosphatase, the FeIII-ZnII-containing red kidney bean enzyme. Metal analysis indicated the presence in the purified sweet potato enzyme of 1.0 g-atom of iron, 0.6-0.7 g-atom of manganese, and small amounts of zinc and copper. The soybean enzyme contained 0.8-0.9 g-atom of iron, 0.7-0.8 g-atom of zinc per subunit, and small amounts of manganese, copper, and magnesium. Both enzymes exhibited visible absorption maxima at 550-560 nm, with molar absorption coefficients of 3200 and 3300 M(-1) cm(-1), respectively, very similar to the red kidney bean enzyme. Substrate specificities were markedly different from those of the red kidney bean enzyme. A cloning strategy was developed based on N-terminal sequences of the sweet potato and soybean enzymes and short sequences around the conserved metal ligands of the mammalian and red kidney bean enzymes. Three sequences were obtained, one from soybean and two from sweet potato. All three showed extensive sequence identity (>66%) with red kidney bean purple acid phosphatase, and all of the metal ligands were conserved. The combined results establish that these enzymes are binuclear metalloenzymes: Fe-Mn in the sweet potato enzyme and Fe-Zn in soybean. The sweet potato enzyme is the first well-defined example of an Fe-Mn binuclear center in a protein.     

Possible involvement of momilactone B in rice allelopathy

Since residues and extracts of rice plants were known to inhibit the germination and growth of several plant species, the possible involvement of a growth inhibitor, momilactone B, in rice allelopathy was discussed. Momilactone B was found in shoots and roots of rice plants over their entire life cycle. The level of momilactone B in shoots and roots increased with rice plant growing until flowering initiation, and then decreased. The highest level of momilactone B in the shoots and roots at the day of flowering initiation was 245 and 64.1 nmol g(-1) fresh weight, respectively. Thus, 1 kg of rice shoots and roots, respectively, may be able to release 245 and 64.1 micromol of momilactone B into the soil or neighboring environment by decomposition of their residues, which may be sufficient to cause growth inhibition of their neighboring or successional plants. The growth inhibitory activity of momilactone B and the occurrence of momilactone B in rice plants suggest that momilactone B may contribute the growth inhibitory effect of rice residues and extracts, indicating that momilactone B may have an important role in the rice allelopathy.     

Nitrogen Nutrition and Cytokinin Activity in Solanum tuberosum

In water culture experiments with potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Ostara), the influence of continuous nitrogen nutrition (constant supply of NO₃^?) and discontinuous nitrogen nutrition (interruption of NO₃^? supply, i. e., nitrogen withdrawal for 6 days) on the endogeneous cytokinin level in the roots, shoots and exudate of decapitated plants was studied. Harvests took place at intervals of 3 days. The chlorophyll formation test (cucumber cotyledons) and soya callus test were used to determine the cytokinin activity. With continuous nitrogen, the cytokinin activity decreased slightly with time in both roots and shoots but rose in the exudate. With discontinuous nitrogen, the nitrogen withdrawal led to a temporary, pronounced increase in cytokinin activity in the roots; at the same time, the cytokinin activity in the exudate decreased sharply. It is assumed that this temporary increase in cytokinin activity in the roots is a reflection of increased meristem activity in the roots. In the shoots, the cytokinin activity decreased during the nitrogen withdrawal period. These nitrogen-induced changes in cytokinin activity in the roots and shoots of potato should presumably have an important influence on the physiological age of the shoot, with all its consequences in the further development of the plant. Zeatin riboside was likely the main cytokinin component involved.     

Picolinic acid-induced direct somatic embryogenesis in sweet potato

Somatic embryos are being considered as an alternative material for in vitro germplasm conservation of sweet potato [(Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.)]. Picolinic acid was tested for somatic embryo production in sweet potato apical meristem tip cultures. Low level (0.2 mgl^-1) of picolinic acid combined with kinetin or 6-benzylamino purine (6-BAP) (1.0 and 2.0 mgl^-1) suppressed shoot growth and induced callus proliferation. Increased amount of picolinic acid (2 and 3 mgl^-1) in combination with kinetin (0.25 and 1.0 mgl^-1) induced direct somatic embryogenesis from apical meristem tips of variety Regal but not in Jewel. The primary embryos matured and germinated bipolarly yielding whole plantlets and unipolarly producing embryogenic hyperhydrated-fasciated shoots. The hyperhydrated-fasciated shoots, when cultured in picolinic and kinetin-enriched medium, produced secondary embryos. The secondary embryos also germinated bipolarly and unipolarly, resulting in subsequent cycles of embryogenesis. This recurrent embryogenesis ensures maintenance and proliferation of embryogenic tissues. Somatic embryos were also formed in mannitol-induced hyperhydrated shoots in response to picolinic acid and kinetin or 6-BAP treatment. Embryogenesis did not occur in non-hyperhydrated leaf, petiole, and internode sections.     

A High Efficient Transformation System and the Introduction of Sweet Protein Gene into Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Tuber, minituber and in vitro-grown microtuber discs of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars 85-14-3, 86-2 and Favorita were used in Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer. A simple, rapid and efficient transformation system was established. Among the three kinds of discs used, the microtuber disc was superior in obtaining transformants. Microtuber discs star ted to form shoots on shoot inducing medium containing kanamycin two to three weeks after cocultivation. Rooted transformants could be obtained in 6–7 weeks. The transformation efficiency could reach as high as 67.5%. The majority of kanamycin resistant plants gave nopaline positive or GUS expression. A number of transgenic plants were obtained using the plasmid containing a sweet protein NPT Ⅱ and nopaline synthase genes. The leaf callus assay and nopaline assay indicated that the foreign sweet protein gene was introduced into the potato genome.     

Growth of the Tops of Sweet Potato and the Translocation of the Nutrients from Leaves

1. Experiments were carried out in Hangchow on the increase of dry matter in the tops of sweet potato plants. The increase can be divided into three periods: (1) slow accumulation of dry matter; (2) rapid increase of accumulation of dry matter, reaching a maximum; (3) decline of accumulation of dry matter, later on account of senility and the dropping of leaves, there was a marked reduction in the dry matter of the tops. The increase in dry matter is in proportion to the leaf area. The amount of fertilizer used is closely related to the increase of dry matter and leaf area. 2. The yield of sweet potato is related to the increase in dry matter of the tops of the plant. To a certain extent, the greater the amount of dry matter, the more rapidly will the tubers enlarge, finally results in a higher yield. Excessive use of fertilizer leads to an abnormal elongation of the plant. During this period an increase in dry matter of the tops not only fails to induce the enlargement of the tubers, but also leads to the consumption of the dry matter, and consequently causes a reduction in yield of sweet potato. From the curve of T/R ratio, the sooner the downward translocation of the tops nutrients occurs, the faster the tubers will form and enlarge. 3. Experiments with p32 show that the various growth conditions of the tops are closely correlated with the translocation of the tubers. With well growing and high yielding plants the nutrients move from the tops to the tubers as soon as the root enlarges. This translocation is even accelerated during the later stage. During the earlier stage of development, much of the plant nutrition is translocated to the stems and leaves, particularly to the latter; then gradually it is diverted to the leaves and the root system, and finally concentrates in the roots. The increase of the area of green leaves and the number of branches during the period of early growth, and the promoting of favourable conditions for the formation and enlargement of the roots, as well as the facilitating of the translocation of nutrients to the roots during the later stage are the determinative factors necessary for obtaining high yield of sweet potato.     

Autoregulation of soybean–Bradyrhizobium nodule symbiosis is controlled by shoot or/and root factors

Two strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum were evaluated with five commercial cultivars of soybean (Clark, Crauford, Davis, Centaur, and Nessen) and one hypernodulating mutant NOD1-3. The hypernodulating NOD1-3 produced 30–50 times the number of nodules of commercial cultivars either inoculated with B. japonicum strain USDA 123 or RCR 3409. Grafting of NOD1-3 shoots to Clark and Davis roots induced hypernodulation on roots of Clark and Davis but did not enhance nodulation when grafted onto the roots of Crauford, Centaur, and Nessen. In contrast, the shoots of Clark, Davis, Centaur and Nessen significantly inhibited nodule formation on the root of NOD1-3. However, Crauford shoots did not alter nodule formation on the roots of NOD1-3 as compared with self-grafts of NOD1-3. It appears that the shoot of NOD1-3 has the ability to alter autoregulatory control of nodulation of Clark and Davis cultivars, but not of Crauford, Centaur and Nessen. The results suggest that the regulation of nodulation in soybean cultivars Clark and Davis is controlled by the shoot factors, while the Crauford was root controlled. Reciprocal grafts between NOD1-3 and Centaur or Nessen indicate that both shoot and root factors are involved in regulation of nodulation. The results suggested that the regulation of nodulation did not depend on bradyrhizobial strains. The shoot control of hypernodulation may be causally related to differential root isoflavonoid levels, which are also controlled by shoot. Application of daidzein significantly enhanced the nodulation and nitrogenase activity of soybean cv. Clark. Root control of restricted nodulation of soybean cv. Centaur did not respond to the addition of daidzein in nutrient solution indicating that this character is not related to isoflavonoids. Therefore, autoregulation in Clark and Centaur plants may be separate events in legume–rhizobia symbiosis and regulated by different kinds of signals.     

Regulation of nodule formation in soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis is controlled by shoot or/and root signals

Two strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum wereevaluated with five commercial cultivars of soybean(Clark, Crauford, Davis, Centaur, and Nessen) and onehypernodulating mutant NOD1-3. The hypernodulatingNOD1-3 produced 30–50 times more nodules thancommercial cultivars either inoculated with B.japonicum strain USDA 123 or RCR 3409. The currentexperiments were extended to determine if therestricted nodulation of commercial cultivars could be overcome by grafting them to a hypernodulated shoot (NOD1-3). Grafting of NOD1-3 shoots to Clark and Davis roots induced hypernodulation on roots of Clark and Davis but did not enhance nodulation when grafted onto the roots of Crauford, Centaur, and Nessen. The shoots of Clark, Davis, Centaur and Nessen significantlyinhibited nodule formation on the root of NOD1-3,while Crauford shoots did not alter nodule formationon the roots of NOD1-3 as compared with self-grafts ofNOD1-3. It appears that the shoot of NOD1-3 has theability to alter autoregulatory control of nodulationof Clark and Davis cultivars, but did not withCrauford, Centaur and Nessen. The results suggestedthat the regulation of nodulation in soybean cultivarsClark and Davis is controlled by the shoot factors,while the Crauford was root controlled.Reciprocal-grafts between NOD1-3 and Centaur or Nessenindicate that both shoot and root factors involved inregulation of nodulation and the regulation ofnodulation did not depend on bradyrhizobial strains. Isoflavonoid analyses from extracts of grafted plantsshowed that NOD1-3 shoots had markedly higher rootisoflavonoid concentrations in roots of both Clark andNOD1-3. The shoot control of hypernodulation may becausally related to differential root isoflavonoidlevels, which are also controlled by the shoot. Thecurrent work was extended to investigate the effect ofapplication of an isoflavonoid (daidzein) on nodulationand nitrogen fixation of soybean cultivars Clark andCentaur as well as in vitro growth of Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Application of theisoflavonoid (daidzein) significantly enhanced thenodulation and nitrogenase activity of Clark but notof Centaur indicating that this character is notrelated to isoflavonoids. Therefore, autoregulationin Clark and Centaur plants may be separate events inlegume-rhizobia symbiosis and regulated by differentkinds of signals. Addition of daidzein to yeastmannitol broth medium promoted the growth of B.japonicum strain USDA 123 and RCR 3409. It seemsthat this compound is able to help the nodulation ofsoybean cv Clark by a Bradyrhizobium strain. Understanding the signaling pathways between rhizobiaand their host plants may allow modifications of thisinteraction to improve symbiotic performance.     

Cd-Binding Complexes from the Root Tissues of Various Higher Plants Cultivated in Cd2+-Containing Medium

Stone parsley, soybean, sunflower, sweet potato, potato, andadlay cultivated in a Cd²⁺-containing medium had Cd-bindingcomplexes with molecular weights of about 4,000 in the roottissues. The complexes were similar to the complex previouslyfound in water hyacinth roots in their absorption and CD spectraand their amino acid compositions. The results indicate thewidespread existence of complexes similar to fission yeast Cd-BPlin roots of various plants. (Received June 30, 1986; Accepted December 18, 1986)     

Simplified cryopreservation of sweet potato [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ipomoea batatas</Emphasis> (L.) Lam.] by optimizing conditions for osmoprotection

Shoot tips of sweet potato were successfully cryopreserved using an encapsulation vitrification method. Encapsulated shoot tips were pre-incubated in liquid Murashige-Skoog medium containing 30 g/l sucrose for 24 h, then precultured in sucrose-enriched medium (0.3 M sucrose) for 16 h. Shoot tips were osmoprotected with a mixture of 2 M glycerol and 1.6 M sucrose for 3 h before being dehydrated with a highly concentrated vitrification solution (PVS2) for 1 h at 25 degrees C. The encapsulated and dehydrated shoot tips were transferred to a 2 ml cryotube, suspended in 0.5 ml PVS2, and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen. Rapidly warmed shoot tips developed normal shoots and roots in 21 days without any morphological abnormalities after plating on a recovery medium. High levels (average of about 80%) of shoot formation were obtained for three cultivars of sweet potato. This encapsulation vitrification method appears promising for cryopreservation of sweet potato germplasm.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a granulin-containing cysteine protease SPCP3 from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) senescent leaves

Granulins are a family of evolutionarily ancient proteins that are involved in regulating cell growth and division in animals. In this report a full-length cDNA, SPCP3, was isolated from senescent leaves of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). SPCP3 contains 1389 nucleotides (462 amino acids) in its open reading frame, and exhibits high amino acid sequence homologies (ca. 64-73.6%) with several plant granulin-containing cysteine proteases, including potato, tomato, soybean, kidney bean, pea, maize, rice, cabbage, and Arabidopsis. Gene structural analysis shows that SPCP3 encodes a putative precursor protein. Via cleavage of the N-terminal propeptide, it generates a protein with 324 amino acids (from the 139th to the 462nd amino acid residues), which contains two main domains: the conserved catalytic domain with the putative catalytic residues (the 163rd Cys, 299th His and 319th Asn) and the C-terminal granulin domain (from the 375th to the 462nd amino acid residues). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and protein gel blot hybridization showed that SPCP3 gene expression was enhanced significantly in natural senescent leaves and in dark- and ethephon-induced senescent leaves, but was almost undetectable in mature green leaves, veins, and roots. Phylogenic analysis showed that SPCP3 displayed close association with a group of plant granulin-containing cysteine proteases which have been implied to be involved in programmed cell death. In conclusion, sweet potato SPCP3 is a functional, senescence-associated gene. Its mRNA and protein levels were significantly enhanced in natural and induced senescing leaves. The physiological role and/or function of SPCP3 associated with programmed cell death during leaf senescence were also discussed.     

Production of galactinol from sucrose by plant enzymes

Galactinol, 1-O-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-myo-inositol, was produced from sucrose as a starting material. UDP-Glc was prepared with sucrose and UDP using sucrose synthase partially purified from sweet potato roots. Then, the UDP-Glc was converted to UDP-Gal using yeast UDP-Gal 4-epimerase from a commercial source. Finally, galactinol was produced from the UDP-Gal and myo-inositol using galactinol synthase partially purified from cucumber leaves. The product was identified as galactinol by the retention times of HPLC, alpha-galactosidase digestion, and NMR spectrometry.     

Oral administration of high molecular mass poly-gamma-glutamate induces NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity

We analyzed the in vivo tumor regression activity of high molecular mass poly-gamma-glutamate (gamma-PGA) from Bacillus subtilis sups. chungkookjang. C57BL/6 mice were orally administered 10-, 100-, or 2000-kDa gamma-PGA or beta-glucan (positive control), and antitumor immunity was examined. Our results revealed higher levels of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma secretion in mice treated with higher molecular mass gamma-PGA (2000 kDa) vs those treated with lower molecular mass gamma-PGA (10 or 100 kDa) or beta-glucan. We then examined the effect of oral administration of 10- or 2000-kDa gamma-PGA on protection against B16 tumor challenge in C57BL/6 mice. Mice receiving high molecular mass gamma-PGA (2000 kDa) showed significantly smaller tumor sizes following challenge with the MHC class I-down-regulated tumor cell lines, B16 and TC-1 P3 (A15), but not with TC-1 cells, which have normal MHC class I expression. Lastly, we found that gamma-PGA-induced antitumor effect was decreased by in vivo depletion of NK cells using mAb PK136 or anti-asialo GM1 Ab, and that was completely blocked in NK cell-deficient B6 beige mice or IFN-gamma knockout mice. Taken together, we demonstrated that oral administration of high molecular mass gamma-PGA (2000 kDa) generated significant NK cell-mediated antitumor activity in mice bearing MHC class I-deficient tumors.